February 26

Principle: Charity, inspire vs. expire, Genshai and Namaste

Spend time doing each of these four inspirements:
1 hour for Apprentice,  
1 1/2 hour for Journeyman,  
and 2 hours or more for Master level 

It was wonderful to hear from our guest speaker, Craig LaMont! He did a wonderful job helping us to see how to practice and 'grow' our charity muscles by deciding and committing to each day for the rest of our lives, to lift others and do something each day that blesses their lives.  He also invited everyone to memorize a poem - that poem is at the end of this post.

Here are the inspirements for the week:

We have been talking about the importance of having Charity, and how Christ, the Greatest Leader, was the best example of charity. 

Another way of describing charity, or genshai, is to "INSPIRE not expire". 

1. Do a word study on Inspire and Expire

1. Look up the words up in Webster 1828 dictionary. Select the definition for your focus. Write the definition in your Truth Book.

2. Underline key words in your definition that stand out to you and define them.

3. Look at how the original word is used in Scripture/ Conference addresses (not in general quotes or other articles, at least for this purpose). Write any new insights or definitions.

4. Rewrite the definition in your own words and how you are going to apply it.

2. Write in your truth book about the following questions:

• In the way we interact with other people, what does it look like to "inspire" others? What does it look like when we "expire"others? Write about this in your Truth Book.
• Write about a time in your life when you felt "inspired" by someone else.
• Write about a time in your life when you felt "expired" by someone else.
• Write about a time when you may have "inspired" someone else.
• Write about a time when you may have "expired" someone else.
• Which FEELS better....

3. Watch the following inspirational videos and write any thoughts/inspiration you have in your Truth Book:

• Cheering Each Other On
• Dayton's Legs
• Strengthen Thy Brethren

4. Write this poem in your Truth Book and consider memorizing it:

WHICH ARE YOU?
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
 
There are two kinds of people on earth to-day,
Just two kinds of people; no more, I say.
Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good. 

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man. 

Not the happy and sad, for the swift-flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
No ; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift and the people who lean. 

Wherever you go, you will find the earth's masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes,
And, oddly enough, you will find, too, I ween,
There is only one lifter to twenty who lean. 

In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner, who lets others bear
Your portion of labor and worry and care?